The Wave

The wave is a small town thing here in the US too. When I visit family in a small town in Pennsylvania everyone waves.

Here in San Diego I get a few backward one finger peace signs

sometimes my wave is missing 4 fingers

Everybody waves in Mulege. It really gives me a good feeling. You sure don't see any sign of resentment.

In Northern California, not so much. Waving is a small town thing, but where I live (small town), all the jerks from the cities moved up here and brought their 'tudes with them.

It is also a sign of the times in the U.S. People are more guarded now. I think fear is the word. You are more apt to get the one finger salute here, or be inviting some kind of confrontation if you wave.

The perfect country wave

The way it's done. Learned it from my dad.

Grasp the steering wheel at 12 o'clock. With your thumb hooked under the wheel lift four fingers.

Anything else and they'll know you're city folk.

It can be confusing though. When they turn on the left blinker it means either: I am turning left, or You may pass me. Usually, If you are on the open highway, you can be pretty well assured that the vehicle in front of you is saying "you may pass". However, still be very cautions. That big truck in front of you can see what is ahead. They are always honorable, in that they have your life in their hands. But, your life depends on their judgment. Be prepared to duck back in behind them, if there is a curve looming ahead, or if an oncoming vehicle seems too near for your vehicle's capacity to make it. If you are already committed, beside the truck, you have to go for it! Flash your headlights and hang on.

On my long trips down or back up to the States, I am always pulling a trailer or a boat. That accounts for my exercising extra caution. One wheel off the edge and......

In Mulege, when I am turning left into The Orchard from the highway, I turn on my left blinker. I also am aware that someone coming up behind me may think I want them to pass. So, if there are no vehicles coming in the opposite direction, I pull into the oncoming lane, and then vehicles zoom past me on the right.

If someone is coming from the opposite direction, I of course stay in my lane with the left signal on, pump my breaks so as to make my brake lights go on and off, and hope for the best.

Usually the system works well. The more experience you have driving in Mexico, the more adept you are in making your own judgments. Nevertheless, the "what if" scenario is still lurking in my mind.:

turn left by going right to cross the highway (really)

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd Maybe for another thread, but y'all know that when the vehicle in front of you turns their left blinker on, it means they're telling you it's ok to pass? It can be confusing though. Usually the system works well. The more experience you have driving in Mexico, the more adept you are in making your own judgments. :

PASS IT FORWARD

About the "wave". It's one of those neat things that happens when you only meet another vehicle every now and then. And you're glad to see 'em. Means that the road is clear.

I learned from my son- in law a most "local" type of wave.It really isn't a wave per say, but a sign of fingers/hand.Index and second finger pointed out and slightly down, thumb out, last two fingers tucked in.All the locals know that one.Anyone else know about this "secret"(not) hand sign?

Martyman, neither!Just a Bajalovin Gramma!!I guess I didn't know the crips and bloods do that.Haven't been around any gang areas lately(never, that I know of!) How come all the Mexicanos that Mijo knows do this sign??He is a hunter and fisherman!!

OK! So I got it right! Thanks Shari, digger, and vandy!It's just another Baja sign, but it seems to invoke a comadrie (sp) feeling.U so got it vandy!! But Shari, if you are traveling say, 40 mphs, they can't hear you saying Eeehoooolay!! edit to include response to Postholedigger:Thats all good stuff, ya got it goin on.!! Orale is always good. (wheres Martyman??)This is a cool thread you started!

[Edited on 7-31-2009 by Sallysouth]

[Edited on 7-31-2009 by Sallysouth]

Quote:

Originally posted by Sallysouth OK! So I got it right! Thanks Shari, digger, and vandy!It's just another Baja sign, but it seems to invoke a comadrie (sp) feeling.U so got it vandy!! But Shari, if you are traveling say, 40 mphs, they can't hear you saying Eeehoooolay!! edit to include response to Postholedigger:Thats all good stuff, ya got it goin on.!! Orale is always good. (wheres Martyman??)This is a cool thread you started! [Edited on 7-31-2009 by Sallysouth] [Edited on 7-31-2009 by Sallysouth]

After having worked with gangs in California, we had to learn to appreciate that wave in a whole new way---but just like saying Hola to everyone we see anywhere in town, we learned.

Now, I wonder what would happen in downtown San Diego if one were to greet everyone who came into a restaurant and then when leaving the restaurant, tell everyone one saw eating to enjoy their meal.

Diane

Martyman..

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter but just like saying Hola to everyone we see anywhere in town, we learned. Diane

Quote:

Originally posted by Santiago Quote: Originally posted by jdtrotter but just like saying Hola to everyone we see anywhere in town, we learned. Diane Uh-oh. Learned what? What am I doing wrong?

Motorcycle riders are a rare breed. Harley riders are a dime a dozen.

I've had several bikes of all stripes... Mainly British and German. The only pig I ever owned was a Harley.

Some of you may be shocked to know what "Quiole" really means:

First of all, the Q at the beginning of the word does not belong there. Oh, it is probably a phonetic interpretation of the sound some make while uttering it. When put in print, you will find many different spellings of a word.

What they are really saying is "Hijo-Le!" (Son of her). Within the culture, blasphemous insults may be hurled among friends. If you are friendly and smiling and/or showing a hand sign that is a universal greeting, you are among "friends".

I have always heard Hijo-Le!, or Hijole! used more as an exclamation, meaning....Wow! That is incredulous!...used with and the head tossed back like a backward nod. They often stretch the Eeeeee out. They are almost always smiling when the say it. It is a reaction to something.

Why is it blasphemous? Well it is short for hijo de la . Think about what that means in Biblical terms. Son of the one who was******...inferring that Mary wasn't a virgin. It is an idiom. (Hijole!)

I wouldn't worry about using the term. It is in wide usage and is meant in friendly terms...unless it is not. If intended as an insult towards someone you are angry with, you'd better be prepared to back it up...or run.

[Edited on 7-31-2009 by toneart]

Shari, I think we are both right. I think it is an idiom that has indeed morphed. On the other hand,Quiole may indeed be a word of a different animal. It does not translate when I ran it through Google Translate. If it is another word altogether, I would be surprised. What does Juan say about this?

I offer what I know to be true, but I certainly don't know everything. It may be that Quiole is a different word altogether. I am certainly open to be refuted. I will be just slightly embarrassed, but more importantly, I will be better informed.

I think Quiole and Hijole are different spellings of the same word. (derived from the phonetic).

I think hiloje was a typo by Shari, reversing the place of the l and the j.

It is confusing, huh?

It was probably first uttered by the Moors in the Eighth Century when one of them stubbed their toe during the invasion of The Iberian Peninsula. The word Caca hadn't been invented yet.

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart It was probably first uttered by the Moors in the Eighth Century when one of them stubbed their toe during the invasion of The Iberian Peninsula. The word Caca hadn't been invented yet.

Quiole!